The Day of the Lord
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. Joel 2:2
darkness and gloominess... These features describe the blackness of a locust invasion, so thick that it blots out the sun with its deadly living cloud of insects.
Such terms are often common figures for misery and calamity in the Old Testament (Isa. 8:22; 60:2; Jer. 13:16; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:15), and past visitations of the Lord (Exo. 10:12; 19:16-19; 24:16; Deut. 4:12; 5:22-23).
This darkness can be of a spiritual nature, or it could be dark because of the number of locusts. There is a third possibility as well.
Mat. 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”
Perhaps, all three of these things are spoken of here. In the physical sense, the locusts are so thick that it is dark as night. The fact that they had eaten all vegetation would bring great gloominess. Perhaps, the fact that there were 4 different types of locusts at once was unique to this area.
Darkness, both physical and spiritual, comes with judgment from God. We must remember this is a judgment from God.
יוֹם
yôm
yome
From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literally (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverbially): - age, + always, + chronicles, continually (-ance), daily, ([birth-], each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever (-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (. . . live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year (-ly), + younger.
חֹשֶׁךְ
chôshek
kho-shek'
From H2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: - dark (-ness), night, obscurity.
אֲפֵלָה
'ăphêlâh
af-ay-law'
Feminine of H651; duskiness, figuratively misfortune; concretely concealment: - dark, darkness, gloominess, X thick.
יוֹם
yôm
yome
From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literally (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverbially): - age, + always, + chronicles, continually (-ance), daily, ([birth-], each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever (-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (. . . live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year (-ly), + younger.
עָנָן
‛ânân
aw-nawn'
From H6049, a cloud (as covering the sky), that is, the nimbus or thunder cloud: - cloud (-y).
עֲרָפֶל
‛ărâphel
ar-aw-fel'
Probably from H6201; gloom (as of a lowering sky): - (gross, thick) dark (cloud, -ness).
a great people... Seven Proofs that These People Are Supernatural:
1. There have never before been any like them appearing on earth before (Joel 2:2).
2. Nor will there be any like them again for many generations—until the end of the Millennium when Satan and his angels and demons will appear on earth in an effort to take it over, at which time God will send this army of heaven against them (Joel 2:2; Isa. 24:22; Rev. 20:7-10).
3. A fire will devour before them (Joel 2:3; Eze. 38:17-21; 2Thes. 1:7-10).
4. They will be riding horses or be in chariots (Joel 2:4). This is pictured several times of God’s army (2Kgs. 2:11-12; 6:16-19; Zec. 1:7-11; 6:1-8; Rev. 19:11, 19:14, 19:21).
5. They will not be hurt even if they fall upon a sword (Joel 2:8).
6. Different from men, they are able to climb walls; they will climb upon the houses and enter into the windows like a thief (Joel 2:9).
7. They are the Lord’s army, and He will be leading them personally (Joel 2:11). His army is definitely spoken of as being all the holy angels and the resurrected saints from heaven (Zec. 14:4-5; Mat. 16:27; 24:31; 25:31; 2Thes. 1:7-10; Jude 1:14-15; Rev. 19:11-21).
רַב
rab
rab
By contraction from H7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality): - (in) abound (-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great (-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, [time]), (do, have) many (-ifold, things, a time), ([ship-]) master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply (-tude), officer, often [-times], plenteous, populous, prince, process [of time], suffice (-ient).
עַם
‛am
am
From H6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: - folk, men, nation, people.
עָצֻם עָצוּם
‛âtsûm ‛âtsûm
aw-tsoom', aw-tsoom'
Passive participle of H6105; powerful (specifically a paw); by implication numerous: - + feeble, great, mighty, must, strong.
לֹה לוֹא לֹא
lô' lô' lôh
lo, lo, lo
lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles: - X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig [-norant], much, less, nay, neither, never, no ([-ne], -r, [-thing]), (X as though . . . , [can-], for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
The day of the Lord is described as a day of darkness and gloom… of clouds and blackness (cf. Zeph. 1:15). The reference to intense darkness following the locust plague of Joel 1:1-20 recalls Exo. 10:1-29, where the same order of events appears. Darkness and clouds — often associated with the Lord in His role as the mighty victorious Warrior (cf. Deut. 4:11; 5:22-23; Psm. 18:9, 18:11; 97:2) — here symbolize both judgment and destruction (cf. Jer. 13:16; Eze. 30:3, 30:18; 32:7-8; 34:12; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:15).
The innumerable size of the invading force receives special attention. Like the rays of the morning sun (dawn) its hosts will cover the horizon. This army is said to be more awesome than any that had ever come or would come. The hyperbolic language may echo Exo. 10:14. If so, it emphasizes that the locusts of Joel 2:1-11 would be even more overwhelming than those that overran Egypt. Something even worse than the Egyptian plagues was about to engulf the land!
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